Double three-point suspension for motor vehicle units



' Oct. I4, 1930.

M. c.- HoRlNE DOUBLE THREE-POINT SUSPENSION FOR MOTOR VEHICL UNITS Filed April 23, 1929 gull..

filza i Patented f Gct. 1.4," 1930 PATENT. OFFICE] MERRILL C. HORINE, F GRASMERE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR '10v INTERNATIONAL MOTOR COMPANY, 'OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE DOITBLE IHRER-POINT SUSPENSIONFOR1 MOTOR VEHICLE UNITS Application inea April 2s',

The present invention relates to unit. mounting, particularlythose upon a vehicle chassis, and embodies, more specifically, an improved mounting for a plurality of units,

'such mounting providing a'tliree-point suspension foreach unit, at lthe same time reduc ing the numb/er Aof connections required 'between the chassis and the respective units. .The conventional three-point suspension for engine, transmission and other units upon a vehicle is vwell known and the advantages thereof will be readily understood.

The three-point suspension principal is lcommonly used for both the so-called :unit

power plant desigmwherein the transmission is more or less rigidly united with the engine `yand clutch housing, the whole power plant thusformed being supportedvon three points,

and' the vvso-called amidships or independent transmission mounting, wherein the engine and transmission are each independently mounted on three supporting points from the vchassis frame, rbeing connected by an intersupport of the separately moun ed transmisn exten mg Webs b3 and a Cooperatmg Socket mediate drive shaft. i

In motor vehiclesof the heavy duty type, the units'are often of such bulk and weight ,that in the conventional unit power plantl design, the overhanging weight and torque reactions' of the transmission occasion distortion and vibrations of destructive nature,

whereas the independent suspension of the units requires more space than 1s conveniently available in practical commercial types of vehicles. This invention therefore combines in ,a large measure, the compactness-of the unit power plant, with the adequate transmission sion. Another advantage secured' is that a i three-point suspension for cach unit is sup- 1929. Serial No. 357,890.

lunits being carried by a three-point suspension.

Figure 2 is an enlarged View in section, taken through the' forwardniounting of the transmission, the mounting being directly between thetransmission and engine.

Referring to the above drawings, the frame of a vehicle is shown ata, an internal combustion engine b being mounted thereon at three points b.

A transmission c' is mounted upon the frame a at its rear end in bearings c and a third suspension point c2 is provided, this suspension point being carried by the rear end of the engine and clutch housing. v

Figure 2 shows a proposed form of connection between the engine and transmission,

sion shaft yieldingly. Such connection embodies, more specifically, a housing d carried by the transmission shaft ci.v inwardly extending webs d cooperate with radially eX- tending webs b3 formed on the-clutch shaft b2. Blocks e of suitable cushioning material are carried between the webs b3 and d, thus cushioning the forces transmitted between the shafts b2 and c3.

Proper alignment of the shafts is secured' by means of a ball and socket joint including a two art socket f formed within the radially plate ff. A bushing f2 is mounted within the socket and serves as a bearing for a ball f3 carried by the end of the'transmission shaft c.

structure accordingly-simplified. Although thev invention has been described with reference to the specic construction shown in the accompanying drawings, it is not to be limited, save as defined in the appended claims. j

I claim as my invention: l

1. Ina mounting for a plurality of units, upon a vehicle frame, means for mounting one of the units upon the frame at three points, means for mounting a second un'it upon the frame at two points, aligned rotatable shafts carried in the units,'a torque cushioning device connecting the shafts between the units units, the second unit being and a universal joint in the torque cushioning device, the second unit being supported at a third point on the shafts. v

2.v In a mounting for a plurality of units y upon a vehicle frame,.means for mounting one of the units upon the frame at three points,' means for munting a second unit upon the frame' at two points, aligned rotatable shafts carried in thev units, and-a universal joint connecting vthe shafts between the supported' at' a third point on the shafts.y

3. In a mountingfor a unitary engine and clutch housing and la transmission housing upon a vehicle-frame, means'for mounting the forward end of the engine upon the frame at a single point, means to mount the clutch housing upon the frame at two points, means for mounting the rear of the transmission housing upon the frame at' two-points, and means to mount `the front of the transmission housing upon theelutch housing,l said last named meansv including a torque cushioning devicew'l 4. In a mounting for upon a vehicle frame, means for mounting one of the units upon the vframe vat three points, means for muntin alsecond unit' uponthe v-frame at two points, and'means for mounting the secondunit-at, a third point upon the first unit with provision for relative y.

movement with respect thereto.

This specificati@ signedrhis 20th day of April A. D. 1929. Y

- MniuuLL-o;HORINEf y a plurality of units A 

